Date published: 7 July 2026
The new NHS Medicines Manufacturing Centre (MMC) is being built in Seaton Delaval. It will help make sure patients across the North East and North Cumbria can get the medicines they need, when they need them.
The centre will make large amounts of medicines used in hospitals every day. These include cancer medicines, antibiotics and other medicines given by injection.
Most people will never see the work that happens inside the building. But the centre will help thousands of patients across the region.
The project is funded by £29.7 million from the NHS. It is one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK.
(Construction underway at the new facility in Seaton Delaval)
Why is it important?
Hospitals need a safe and steady supply of medicines. Demand for medicines is growing every year. Many NHS medicine units are already very busy.
The new centre will help meet this demand. It will work with hospital pharmacy teams to make more medicines for patients.
This will help hospitals get the medicines they need and protect supplies for the future.
Better for patients
The new centre will prepare more medicines before they reach hospital wards. This can help patients get treatment faster and more safely.
It will also make medicines that are labelled and ready to use when patients leave hospital. This can help reduce delays and make it easier for patients to go home.
For people having cancer treatment and other specialist care, a reliable supply of medicine is very important. The new centre will help make sure these medicines are available when needed.
Better for staff
The centre will also help NHS staff.
By making more medicines ready to use, it will save time for nurses and other healthcare workers. This means they can spend more time caring for patients.
The project is expected to create around 150 jobs. These will include roles in manufacturing, quality control, logistics and management.
(A Getinge isolator within a cleanroom environment, where medicines are manufactured to the highest quality and safety standards)
Investing in the future
Construction of the new centre is expected to be completed later this year. Production is due to begin in spring 2027.
When it opens, the Medicines Manufacturing Centre is expected to make up to one million doses of medicine each year.
The centre will help strengthen NHS medicine supplies and reduce the need to buy medicines from outside providers.
Most importantly, it will help patients across the North East and North Cumbria continue to receive safe, high-quality care for many years to come.
Marc Sutton, Managing Director of the Medicines Manufacturing Centre, said:
"Most people will never see the work that happens inside the MMC, but the medicines made here will help patients across our region every day.
“This investment will help build a stronger and safer NHS.
“It will help us meet growing demand, support our hospitals and make sure patients can get the medicines they need now and in the future."
To learn more about the project, watch this short animation.
